A website called Jezebel that talks about women’s issues was sold to a new company. This website started in 2007 and has had different owners. The last company that owned it said they had to close it because they didn’t have enough money. The new company, which likes music, wants to start Jezebel again and is looking for new people to work there.

Jezebel was closed after being around for 16 years, and many people were sad about it. They liked how the website wrote stories. A man named Josh who started the company that bought Jezebel is happy to bring it back. He thinks it’s important to have Jezebel. We don’t know how much money was used to buy it, but the company also bought another news website that was closed before.

Selling Jezebel happened when making money from ads on the internet is changing. It’s hard for many companies because big companies like Amazon, Google, and Meta get most of the ad money. Even though it’s tough, the new company that owns Jezebel thinks they can do a good job. Jezebel is still popular, with lots of people visiting the website every month.

Original news source: Feminist site Jezebel to be revived after sale (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Each pair will read the article together and then write a summary of the main points. They can use bullet points or short sentences. After they finish, have each pair share their summary with the rest of the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a list of vocabulary words from the article on the board. Divide the class into teams. One person from each team will come to the board and choose a word. They will then have to draw a picture to represent the word while their team tries to guess it. The team that guesses the most words correctly wins.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will discuss the pros and cons of Jezebel being sold to a new company. They should consider the positive and negative aspects of this change. After the discussion, each group will present their ideas to the class.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Give the students a few minutes to think about their opinion on the sale of Jezebel to a new company. Then, have them pair up with a partner and discuss their thoughts. After the discussion, ask a few pairs to share their opinions with the whole class.

– Opinion Spectrum
Instructions: Create a line on the floor or wall with tape. One end represents “strongly agree” and the other end represents “strongly disagree”. Read a statement related to the sale of Jezebel and have the students stand on the spectrum according to their opinion. Give them a few minutes to explain their position to a partner. Then, ask a few students from different points on the spectrum to share their thoughts with the class.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the name of the website that was sold to a new company?
2. How long has Jezebel been around?
3. Why did the last company that owned Jezebel have to close it?
4. What does the new company that bought Jezebel like?
5. How did people feel when Jezebel was closed?
6. Who is happy to bring Jezebel back?
7. Why is it hard for many companies to make money from ads on the internet?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A website called Jezebel that talks about women’s issues was sold to a new (1)______. This website started in 2007 and has had different owners. The last company that owned it (2)______ they had to close it because they didn’t have enough (3)______. The new company, which likes music, wants to (4)______ (5)______ again and is looking for new people to work there.

Jezebel was closed after being around for 16 years, and many people were sad about it. They liked how the (6)______ wrote stories. A man named Josh who started the company that bought Jezebel is happy to bring it back. He thinks it’s important to (7)______ Jezebel. We don’t know how much money was used to buy it, but the company also bought another news website that was closed before.

Selling Jezebel happened when (8)______ money from ads on the internet is (9)______. It’s hard for many companies because big companies like Amazon, Google, and (10)______ get most of the ad money. Even though it’s (11)______, the new company that owns Jezebel thinks they can do a good job. Jezebel is still popular, with lots of (12)______ visiting the website every month.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is Jezebel and why were many people sad when it closed?
2. How would you feel if your favorite website closed down?
3. Do you think it’s important to have websites that talk about women’s issues? Why or why not?
4. What do you think about the new company buying Jezebel and wanting to start it again?
5. How do you think the new company can make money from Jezebel?
6. Do you like reading news websites? Why or why not?
7. What other websites do you visit often? Why do you like them?
8. How do you think big companies like Amazon and Google affect smaller companies that rely on ads for money?
9. Do you think it’s tough for companies to make money from ads on the internet? Why or why not?
10. What would you do if you were the owner of a popular website that was struggling to make money?
11. How do you think the new owners of Jezebel can make it successful again?
12. Do you think Jezebel will be as popular as before? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. website
2. sold
3. owners
4. closed
5. stories
6. company
7. money
8. popular

Meanings:
(a) When something is not open anymore
(b) When something is given to someone else in exchange for money
(c) People who have something that belongs to them
(d) Things that are written or told to entertain or inform
(e) A place on the internet where you can find information
(f) Liked by many people and visited often
(g) A group of people who work together to make and sell things
(h) Something that people use to buy things
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. When did Jezebel start?
(a) 2016
(b) 1990
(c) 2007
(d) 2020

2. Why did the previous company close Jezebel?
(a) They didn’t have enough money
(b) They didn’t like the website
(c) They wanted to start a new company
(d) They didn’t have enough employees

3. What does the new company like?
(a) Sports
(b) Music
(c) Cooking
(d) Fashion

4. How long was Jezebel around before it closed?
(a) 16 years
(b) 5 years
(c) 10 years
(d) 20 years

5. Who is happy to bring Jezebel back?
(a) Sarah
(b) Emily
(c) Josh
(d) David

6. How much money was used to buy Jezebel?
(a) $1 million
(b) We don’t know
(c) $100,000
(d) $10,000

7. What other news website did the new company buy?
(a) CNN
(b) BBC
(c) The New York Times
(d) It is not mentioned in the article

8. Why is it tough for companies to make money from ads on the internet?
(a) People don’t like ads
(b) Ads are too expensive to make
(c) Companies don’t know how to advertise online
(d) Big companies get most of the ad money

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Jezebel, a website that talks about fashion and pop culture, was recently bought by a new company.
2. The man named Josh, who started the company that sold Jezebel, is excited to bring it back.
3. The website has been around since 2010 and has had the same owner throughout its existence.
4. The new owners of Jezebel are optimistic about its future despite the challenges of making money from online advertisements.
5. The exact amount of money used to purchase Jezebel is unknown, but the company also acquired another closed news website.
6. The new company, which has an interest in music, plans to revive Jezebel and is hiring new staff.
7. The previous company that owned Jezebel had to expand it due to financial difficulties.
8. Many people were saddened by the closure of Jezebel after its 16-year run, as they enjoyed its stories.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What is the name of the website that was sold to a new company?
2. Why did the last company that owned Jezebel have to close it?
3. How long was Jezebel around before it was closed?
4. Who started the company that bought Jezebel?
5. Why is it difficult for many companies to make money from ads on the internet?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the name of the website that was sold to a new company?
The website that was sold is called Jezebel.

2. How long has Jezebel been around?
Jezebel has been around for 16 years.

3. Why did the last company that owned Jezebel have to close it?
The last company had to close Jezebel because they didn’t have enough money.

4. What does the new company that bought Jezebel like?
The new company that bought Jezebel likes music.

5. How did people feel when Jezebel was closed?
Many people were sad when Jezebel was closed.

6. Who is happy to bring Jezebel back?
A man named Josh, who started the company that bought Jezebel, is happy to bring it back.

7. Why is it hard for many companies to make money from ads on the internet?
It’s hard for many companies because big companies like Amazon, Google, and Meta get most of the ad money.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) company
(2) said
(3) money
(4) start
(5) Jezebel
(6) website
(7) have
(8) making
(9) changing
(10) Meta
(11) tough
(12) people
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. website
Answer: (e) A place on the internet where you can find information

2. sold
Answer: (b) When something is given to someone else in exchange for money

3. owners
Answer: (c) People who have something that belongs to them

4. closed
Answer: (a) When something is not open anymore

5. stories
Answer: (d) Things that are written or told to entertain or inform

6. company
Answer: (g) A group of people who work together to make and sell things

7. money
Answer: (h) Something that people use to buy things

8. popular
Answer: (f) Liked by many people and visited often
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. When did Jezebel start?
Answer: (c) 2007

2. Why did the previous company close Jezebel?
Answer: (a) They didn’t have enough money

3. What does the new company like?
Answer: (b) Music

4. How long was Jezebel around before it closed?
Answer: (a) 16 years

5. Who is happy to bring Jezebel back?
Answer: (c) Josh

6. How much money was used to buy Jezebel?
Answer: (b) We don’t know

7. What other news website did the new company buy?
Answer: (d) It is not mentioned in the article

8. Why is it tough for companies to make money from ads on the internet?
Answer: (d) Big companies get most of the ad money
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Jezebel, a website that talks about fashion and pop culture, was recently bought by a new company. (Answer: False)
2. The man named Josh, who started the company that sold Jezebel, is excited to bring it back. (Answer: False)
3. The website has been around since 2010 and has had the same owner throughout its existence. (Answer: False)
4. The new owners of Jezebel are optimistic about its future despite the challenges of making money from online advertisements. (Answer: True)
5. The exact amount of money used to purchase Jezebel is unknown, but the company also acquired another closed news website. (Answer: True)
6. The new company, which has an interest in music, plans to revive Jezebel and is hiring new staff. (Answer: True)
7. The previous company that owned Jezebel had to expand it due to financial difficulties. (Answer: False)
8. Many people were saddened by the closure of Jezebel after its 16-year run, as they enjoyed its stories. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧